RT.com
26 Dec 2022, 15:43 GMT+10
Chinese officials said the move came in response to US ?provocation?
Beijing has launched large-scale naval and aerial maneuvers around Taiwan, involving dozens of aircraft, days after Washington's pledge to provide additional military aid to Taipei.
A total of 71 jet fighters, anti-submarine planes, electronic warfare aircraft and reconnaissance drones, together with seven naval ships, have been spotted close to Taiwan in the last 24 hours, the self-governing island's Defense Ministry said on Monday.
Taipei scrambled its own jets and Navy vessels, and also used land-based missile batteries, to monitor the movement of Beijing's forces.
Beijing announced the launch of "joint fire strike exercises" around Taiwan on Sunday. A colonel called the drills "a resolute response to the escalating collusion and provocation by the United States and Taiwan," adding that the People's Liberation Army would take "all necessary measures" to defend China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On Friday, President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act for the Fiscal Year 2023, a spending bill that allows up to $2 billion worth of military loans to Taiwan over the next five years.
Taiwan has been self-governed since 1949, but has never officially gained independence from China. Beijing considers the island as an inalienable part of its territory and views foreign military and diplomatic aid to local authorities as meddling in its domestic affairs.
"This Act, in total disregard of facts, hypes up the 'China threat' narrative, blatantly interferes in China's internal affairs," a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesman for Beijing's Defense Ministry, stated that "the Chinese People's Liberation Army will, as always, be ready to resolutely safeguard national reunification and the territorial integrity of the country."
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of Taiwan Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Taiwan Sun.
More InformationSAN FRANCISCO, California: Grammarly is doubling down on AI-powered productivity tools with the acquisition of Superhuman, a sleek...
NEW YORK, New York -U.S. stock markets closed with broad gains on Thursday, led by strong performances in U.S. tech stocks, while European...
LONDON/STOCKHOLM: The Persson family is ramping up its investment in the H&M fashion empire, fueling renewed speculation about a potential...
PARIS, France: L'Oréal is making a fresh play in the booming premium haircare segment with a new acquisition. The French beauty conglomerate...
MENLO PARK, California: Robinhood is giving European investors a new way to tap into America's most prominent tech names — without...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks diverged on Wednesday for the second day in a row. The Standard and Poor's 500 hit a new all-time...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday. President...
GENEVA, Switzerland: A new United Nations report alleges that dozens of global corporations are profiting from and helping sustain...
LONDON, UK - Lawmakers in the United Kingdom have voted overwhelmingly to proscribe the direct-action group Palestine Action as a terrorist...
DHARAMSHALA, India: The Dalai Lama is set to address a significant three-day conference of Buddhist leaders this week, coinciding with...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: In a significant ruling last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for users...
ISTANBUL/PARIS/BRUSSELS: As searing temperatures blanket much of Europe, wildfires are erupting and evacuation orders are being issued...